climate change – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

Join us for Saskatoon and Area iNaturalist City Nature Challenge CNC YXE 2023!

Are you ready to connect with nature, contribute to vital conservation research, and compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City? Saskatoon and Area are gearing up for the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge CNC YXE 2023, happening from April 28 to May 1, 2023. This international initiative invites researchers, school groups, citizens, and wildlife enthusiasts across the world to come together and put nature on the map through the iNaturalist smartphone app.

George Genereux Urban Regional Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Sept 24 — City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area

City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area

Similar to other nature-related international decades, such as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration from 2021 to 2030, the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge aims to promote environmental goals, including the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems, combating climate change, safeguarding biodiversity, food security, and water supply. While much focus is on promoting restoration activity by national governments, the UN also wishes to promote efforts from other actors, ranging from the private sector and NGOs to regular individuals.

Participating in the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge is easy and fun. Whether you are an expert, a seasoned #BioBlitz participant, or getting involved for the first time, you can contribute to the collection of biodiversity data in Saskatoon and Area. Simply download the free iNaturalist app, take a photograph of nature in your local area, whether it’s a tree, plant, insect, or animal, and upload it to the app. You don’t even have to know anything about the species you are observing. Teams of experts will review and update the information that’s submitted, so you can log back in later and learn more about what you’ve spotted.By participating in the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge, you can help Saskatoon and Area compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City.

The challenge has three awards each year for the cities and areas that make the most observations, find the most species, and engage the most people. It’s a friendly competition that puts Saskatoon and Area on the world stage and highlights the rich biodiversity of our region.So, mark your calendars and join us for the Saskatoon and Area iNaturalist City Nature Challenge CNC YXE 2023 from April 28 to May 1, 2023. Let’s come together as a community to celebrate and learn about the wildlife flourishing in our local greenspaces, while contributing to global efforts in conservation research. To learn more, visit FriendsAreas.ca and get ready to embark on a nature adventure like never before!

Planned events

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
YouTube
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities
“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience: Building a Sustainable Future

The world is experiencing the impacts of climate change, and we must act now to prevent further damage. While planting trees and protecting existing forests are important steps in combating climate change, reducing our carbon footprint is equally crucial.

There are various ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and some of these methods offer additional benefits beyond just mitigating climate change. For example, improving our personal health and well-being is an excellent way to reduce our carbon footprint. By prioritizing exercise and healthy eating habits, we can not only feel better physically and mentally, but we can also lower our energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Commemorate #NationalForestWeek with a theme in 2022 "Canada's Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate." 2022 is the 30th anniversary of "Maple Leaf Day" or National Tree Day in Canada — Solutions for a Changing Climate.” 2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada

Caragana arborescens, the Siberian peashrub, Siberian pea-tree, or caragana blossom — Solutions for a Changing Climate.” 2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada

Decreasing energy use is another essential step in combating climate change. We can do this by choosing energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights when not in use, and using renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines.

Reducing automobile use is another critical means of reducing our carbon footprint. We can do this by carpooling, using public transportation, biking, or walking. Not only does this help us reduce our carbon emissions, but it also promotes a healthier lifestyle and helps to reduce traffic congestion.

Shifting our diet towards plant-based foods is also an excellent way to reduce our carbon footprint. The production of meat and dairy products requires a significant amount of energy and resources, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. By consuming more plant-based foods, we not only reduce our carbon footprint, but we also improve our health and support sustainable agriculture practices.

Finally, reducing unnecessary purchasing can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. We can do this by buying less, buying second-hand items, and supporting companies with sustainable practices. By being more mindful of our purchasing habits, we can reduce the amount of waste we generate and lower our carbon emissions.

In conclusion, reducing our carbon footprint requires action in various areas of our lives. By improving our personal health and well-being, decreasing energy use, reducing automobile use, increasing active transport, shifting our diet towards plant-based foods, and reducing unnecessary purchasing, we can significantly reduce our impact on the environment. Let’s take steps towards a more sustainable future and prioritize the health of our planet and ourselves.

Nature-based solutions have increasingly become a significant area of focus in climate action. Trees and forests, in particular, play an essential role in mitigating climate change. Trees inhale carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun, and through photosynthesis, they emit oxygen while turning the carbon dioxide into sugars that feed the tree. Forests are also the largest land-based carbon sink on Earth, and they absorb greenhouse gases emitted from cars, trucks, power plants, and other sources.

Forest Gathering Walk 50th Anniversary #NationalForestWeek and the 30th anniversary of Maple Leaf Day and #NationalForestWeek — Maple Leaf Day and #NationalForestWeek

Wildlife in Forest — Maple Leaf Day and #NationalForestWeek

However, forests’ security as a carbon sink is diminishing due to climate change, wildfires, human development, and other disturbances impacting forest health and expanse. For example, wildfires burn more intensely and over more acres, increasing the likelihood of grassland regrowth instead of forests. Since grasslands sequester less carbon dioxide, reliable carbon sinks that forests provide will shrink.

To address this, reforestation has been identified as one of the most effective strategies for tackling climate change. Recent research by ETH Zurich suggests that atmospheric carbon can be reduced by about 25% if 500 billion trees are planted. NASA also suggests that reforestation can eliminate half of all carbon emitted from human activity since 1960. Canada, in particular, plays an important role in global reforestation efforts, and the government has committed to planting two billion trees in the next ten years.

The planting of two billion trees by 2030 in Canada could sequester between 1.8 to 4 megatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, starting around 2030, according to estimates by Ottawa-based think tank Smart Prosperity. This is equivalent to taking off 1,225,456 cars or 4% of all cars in Canada off the road. By 2050, the government of Canada projects that the initiative will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12 Mt. Although the carbon storage benefits of reforestation take time to grow, they remain an essential part of mitigating climate change.

Forest carbon

How trees make oxygen, and other ways they are vital to human existence

Trees: Our Allies in Addressing Climate Change

Biodiversity Challenge

A Biodiversity Challenge in Saskatoon and Area September 15-18. Help us to track phenological (seasonal) changes in our biodiversity! Meet Forest Guide: Sam Ereke, BSc, MSc, Research Scientist. Look in your back yard, your house, bus stop, forest, park, greenspace, near the wetlands for wildlife! Record the discoveries on the iNaturalist app. YouTube videos providing iNaturalist hints and tips All you need is your smart phone to participate! Its so easy, download the free iNaturalist app, take pictures of signs of life including spider webs, sea shells, feathers, scat, tracks. As well as the pollinators, plants, mushrooms, insects, birds, squirrels and other wildlife

There are also Nature Connection BioBlitz Group Events

This Biodiversity Challenge taking place Sept. 15-18 is a great way to usher in #NationalForestWeek!

Day One Group Meetup EVENT on Sept 15 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Day Two Group Meetup EVENT on Sept 16 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Day Three Group Meetup EVENT on Sept 17 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Day Four Group Meetup EVENT on Sept 18 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

YOUTUBE video

Saskatoon Area Biodiversity Challenge Sept 15 – 18

National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Our forests and trees provide habitats for wildlife, insects, polllinator species, birds and so much more! What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?

1. Loss of biodiversity
2. Climate change
3. Out of control pollution.

Out of control pollution.
Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.

Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die.
We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)

This biodiversity Challenge is a great way to discover new trees and unexplored forest places, or perhaps it is a time to return to celebrate a favourite forest you love and are familiar with

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
YouTube
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities
“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Many Stories

YouTube Video Historic Places Days

Historic Places Days Every Place A Story Saskatoon Every historic site has not just one, but many, stories. Telling the untold and forgotten stories of the namesake of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area historic site. Thank you for coming out to the Remai Modern, the Legacy of Saskatoon’s Secret Forest is now on YouTube

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area has many stories to share! You might know that that this 326 acre man made forest on the prairies was planted as a tree nursery in 1972 and named as an urban regional park in 1979, but did you know this site was also named for Richard St. Barbe Baker, global conservationist who founded the International Tree Foundation with the Dance of the Trees 100 years ago July 22, 1922.

And there’s a contest with awesome prizes too! #HistoricPlacesDays. Tag your selfie at the afforestation areas for a chance to win $1,000 Post before 07-31

Legacy of Saskatoon’s Secret Forest Global Crusader and Changemaker

On YouTube learn about our rich and diverse history sponsored by Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas inc.

For more information … Learn more friendsarea.ca Twitter: @nationaltrustca Facebook: National Trust for Canada / Fiducie nationale du Canada Instagram: @nationaltrustca / @fiducienatca LinkedIn: National Trust for Canada #HistoricPlacesDays #ParksCanada #ViaRail #HistoricPlaces #VisitAndDiscover #EveryPlaceAStory #CanadianHistory #CdnHeritage #CdnHistory #CelebrateHistory Learn more friendsarea.ca friendsafforestation@gmail.com https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Richard St. Barbe Baker Commemorative Signage at the Meeewasin Trail near the Diefenbaker Center on the University of Saskatchewan campus, City of Saskatoon

https://historicplacesdays.ca/places/george-genereux-urban-regional-park/
https://historicplacesdays.ca/events/the-george-genereux-story/
https://historicplacesdays.ca/places/richard-st-barbe-baker-afforestation-area/
https://historicplacesdays.ca/events/reviving-local-heritage/

https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com/

http://friendsareas.ca/

friendsafforestation@gmail.com

Thank you for your donation!

As donations are received, a page from the Living Legacy book will be released for free pdf download!

The first donation was received, and here is a link to the promised free pdf download page from the Living Legacy 50 for 50 activity book connecting activities with place based exploration!

Your support goes towards funding bus to transport classrooms for field trips, renting porta-potties for a day’s adventure for water testing, eco-tours or iNaturalist Citizen Science discoveries.

During 2022, this year of the trees 50th birthday, financial support goes to protect the forests, wetlands and species at risk in such endeavours as trash cleanups removing toxic and hazardous waste from the semi-wilderness habitat, wildlife fencing installation, park amenities and so much more! Tours for the General Public, anniversary films reviving local heritage and events for National Forest Week.

Once again, thanks kindly for your donation.

Order your copy of Living Legacy activity book and support the semi-wilderness environment and conservation of the flora and fauna. Take action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on Land, UN SDG 14 Life Below Water and UN SDG 13 Climate Action as afforestation areas are nature based solutions for climate action. Supporting 2022-2032 International Decade of Indigenous Languages and the 2021 to 2030 United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

50th anniversary of World Environment Day, 50th Birthday for Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon — 50th Birthday of the tree plantings at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon

A round of appreciation is extended to the City of Saskatoon, Mosaic, Sask Energy for their support in assembling this publication, thank you kindly.

Three Days Away

Send in your cool/unusual/rare sightings! What is way interesting during the City Nature Challenge April 29- May 2? That is only three days away! Wow

For rare sightings during the City Nature Challenge CNCYXE don’t place your iNat observation on private but do protect your rare sightings with obscured! And do let us know, so that the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County can run a press release!

In Saskatoon and area we are taking part in #CNC2022! Join us between April 29 – May 2 as we take part in this International initiative to collect information about the wildlife flourishing in Saskatoon and area.

Researchers, school groups, citizens and wildlife enthusiasts across the world will be taking part in this race against the clock to put nature on the map, submitting photos and observations of wildlife in their neighbourhoods and greenspaces through the free, easy to use iNaturalist smart phone app.

New finds! Species that haven’t been recorded in particular areas before. Important finds of rare/endangered/threatened species. Observations that have a great story that go along with them. Really cool photos. Fun finds!

Send your photos of yourself, your friends or your family taking images in nature with iNaturalist! friendsafforestation@gmail.com

Taking a photo of mushrooms (fungi) with iNat on a smart phone

City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge — Taking a photo of mushrooms (fungi) with iNat on a smart phone

Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday! We have some cool events planned coming up!

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

World Health Day

This World Health Day April 7 remember the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15, and how many benefits we derive from trees and forests for our physical and mental health! Check out some of our amazing ways we are celebrating World Health Day!

April 12 A Webinar on how to create Citizen Science Events to support the Health of Our Planet!

April 13 Sorting out noxious invasives from beneficial pollinator species. City Nature Challenge Webinar.

April 25 Webinar City Nature Challenge Fungi and Lichen Observation Hints and Tips

April 26 Webinar City Nature Challenge Insect Hints and Tips

BIO blitz in person connect with nature George Genereux Park Friday April 29 at 7:00 pm

BIO blitz in person connect with nature Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area April 30 at 2:00 pm

BIO blitz in person connect with nature Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area May 1 at 2:00 pm

BIO blitz in person connect with nature George Genereux Park Friday May 2 at 7:00 pm

May 7 Wild Spring Fling George Genereux Park

May 8 It’s A Spring Thing! Richard St. Barbe Baker Park

Exposure to forests enhances our immune system and increases our natural killer cells.

Come out to the afforestation areas during the City Nature Challenge April 29-May 2 and take action for global biodiversity. Download the iNaturalist app and start practising taking photos of nature today!

Renew, and rejuvenate, recharge your batteries by connecting with nature

Let your children play and connect with nature also!

“Love is where attentiveness to nature starts, and responsibility towards one’s home landscape is where it leads.” – John Elder (1998)

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Being Outside advocated by David Suzuki

David Suzuki turns 86 on March 24. Suzuki has been notable as host of The Nature of Things. In 1990, he Co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation which has a mission “to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us.” The foundation advocates for sustainability, climate action, and The One Nature Challenge.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas concur that spending 30 minutes, just 1/2 hour per day connecting with nature is a wonderful habit to foster a new habit for the year.

With the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, come outside and enjoy the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Park, they are a whopping 149 hectares of forest to explore.

There are some amazing events coming up for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area for the #CNCYXE2022. Help put the City of Saskatoon on the world nature scene! Using iNaturalist take photos of plants, animals, insects and mushrooms between April 29 to May 2, 2022! Saskatoon will compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City. We need your help. By observing local nature, everyone can support vital conservation research while connecting with nature and enjoying the outdoors.

That’s not all, it is a wonderful and vibrant spring with the Jane’s Walk festival featuring two tours, and events to celebrate Arbor Week. This year SOS Trees Inc. has proclaimed Arbor Week between May 21 to 29, 2022. This is all followed by events for the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day on June 5, and the same day celebrates the 40th anniversary of Richard St. Barbe Baker’s last tree planting. How absolutely wonderful to get outside in nature and celebrate Saskatoon’s Hidden Forests on the Prairies.

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Windbreaks on the Prairies

Online is an 18 minute historic documentary online from the National Film Board entitled, “Windbreaks on the Prairies,” created in 1943.

Forests of George Genereux Park and Richard St. Barbe Baker Park

Rime Ice at George Genereux Urban Regional Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. NE 21-36-6 W 3 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 NE 21-36-6 — Forests of George Genereux Park and Richard St. Barbe Baker Park

The Dominion Department of Agriculture set up an experimental station at Indian Head, SK which later became known as the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration[PFRA.] This tree nursery distributed many hardy, drought resistant tree saplings for distribution across the prairies in response to the devastation caused by the drought” years during the “Dirty Thirties.” The recognition of the value of trees for the soil, and water became evident.

George Genereux Urban Regional Park and Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area had their beginnings through the City of Saskatoon Parks Department receiving advice and saplings from the PFRA in 1972 – 50 years ago.

The film, Windbreaks on the Prairies, says; “In the protection of trees birds will flourish and keep insects under control. As one pioneer woman who has grown many trees. says without trees we would have left our farm long ago. To us trees are the hope of the earth like healthy children to a home. The world without trees would be as world without children.”

In My Life My Trees, Richard St. Barbe Baker puts it this way….”Thus the forest manures itself and, with the help of the earthworms and other animals, distributes this manure through the upper layers of the soil. Everything is done by nature quietly and efficiently. No artificial fertilizers, no selective weed-killers, no pesticides and no machinery are needed in the household of the natural forest.”

And from the same book, Baker also says, “If a man loses one-third of his skin he dies; the plastic surgeons say, “He’s had it.” If a tree loses one-third of its bark it dies .. .. Would it not be reasonable to suggest that if the earth loses more than a third of its green mantle and tree cover, it will assuredly die? The water table will sink beyond recall and life will become impossible.”

From the fall of 2019 when the soil was at saturation point, the weather cycled. 2020 was reported as the worst drought in decades, 2021 also showed a year of drought, the worst drought ever recorded, and hardships across Saskatchewan. Now the winter snowfall brings hope for 2022.

As Saskatchewan knows, drought is a cyclical occurrence on the prairies. On page 8 of the Ray Garnett, Madhav Kahndear report “From Drought to Wet Cycles the Changing Climate of the Canadian Prairies” maps show the extreme differences between water levels between the Sept 2001/2002 drought conditions as compared to the 2005-2006 wet saturation levels.

The benefits of trees are amazing in both situations, during years of high water tables, trees mitigate flooding, and during years of drought, trees help to raise the water table, and produce microclimates attracting rain. This theory has been proven effective in afforesting the deserts around the world.

Though the PFRA is now defunct, the Shand Greenhouse still grows and distributes trees. The City of Saskatoon has a Request A Tree program. The University of Saskatchewan has a wonderful Shelterbelt DSS tool for shelterbelt planning, and the One School, One Farm Shelterbelt Program connects urban youth with rural farms with invaluable Eco-Buffers and shelter belts programmes.

This supports both the United Nations Decade on Restoration and The United Nations General Assembly International Day of Forests on 21 March 2022

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

Thank you to SaskTel

It is very much appreciated to have the sponsorship and support of SaskTel for the Saskatoon and Area City Nature Challenge YXE 2022 Défi nature urbaine

@sasktel

SaskTel Cares is their motto and it truly resonates with this community project needed ever so much in this era of Cimate change! The City Nature Challenge and having the community of Saskatoon and area come out to take pictures of living organisms, plants, animals, insects, mushrooms is a great way to act locally and take action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on Land

Help put the City of Saskatoon and area on the world nature scene! Using iNaturalist take photos of plants, animals, insects and mushrooms between April 29 – May 2, 2022! Saskatoon will compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City. We need your help.

From May 3-May 8 identify what was found in Saskatoon Taking part is easy!

iNaturalist Connect with nature for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area Défi nature urbaine hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

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